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Members of First West Monroe deliver clothes, pillows, coloring books and toiletries to the shelters around the area. First West Facebook page photo

Churches come together to distribute clothing, food as floodwaters rise

March 11, 2016

By Message Staff

Even as floodwaters continue to rise in Sterlington, the churches of various denominations there are coming together to spread Christ’s love through meal and clothing distributions.

“There is a lot of water everywhere and it is steadily rising” said Ben Hackler, pastor of First Baptist Church Sterlington. “Right now, there really isn’t much we can do but to watch it rain, help where we can and wait. We’ve mobilized people to help where we can.”

According to Hackler, First Sterlington and First West Monroe Fairbanks have joined together to provide hot meals, sandwiches and bottled water to those in need. The First West thrift store already has received a number of donations which they are distributing.

The Methodist Church, which is across the street from First Sterlington, is one of four shelters operating in the area and both Baptist Churches are supplying meals and personal items to the occupants and relief workers.

“If need be, we can also house people as well,” Hackler said. “So far, we have not been needed to house anyone.

Hackler, who was in Frenchmen’s Bend subdivision Friday morning helping to move furniture out of a house threatened by rising water, said the work in the area has only just begun.

“This is going to be a two to four week process,” he said. “People are going to need help after the water goes down and they start assessing needs. I know it is probably too soon but, really, we could use the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief assessment teams to be here now along with the first responders.

“The real work begins when all this water finally goes down,” Hackler said. “There will be a lot of clean up and sheetrock and carpet to be torn out. So, right now just pray. Pray for everyone who is being affected by these flood waters.”

First Baptist Church in Robeline members spent Friday morning distributing cases of water provided by the Office of Homeland Security to residents of Robeline and Marthaville. Each household receives one case. Those residents are currently without access to clean water after the Robeline/Marthaville water system was flooded out.

Pastor Brian Ray said his church building escaped damage from the flooding, but knows things could be worse.

In the weeks ahead, Ray is certain his church will have ample opportunities to show Christ’s love to many people in need.

“Pray that the water goes down, especially in low lying areas,” Ray said. “Pray that God shows us the needs in the coming weeks.”

Pallets of bottled water are ready for distribution at First Baptist Church in Robeline Friday morning, March 11, 2016. First Baptist Robeline Facebook page photo

Pallets of bottled water are ready for distribution at First Baptist Church in Robeline Friday morning, March 11, 2016. First Baptist Robeline Facebook page photo

Nearly a foot of water was standing inside the office annex at Old Zion Hill Baptist Church in Tickfaw Friday morning. The main worship center did not sustain any water damage.

Pastor Gary Dennis said he was aware of three families in his church whose homes are flooded, though no one sustained injuries.

“We’ve been investing in our community through in action on Sundays and through other projects,” Dennis said. “It looks like the Lord has opened the door wide for us.”

Casey Johnson, pastor of Bonita Road Baptist Church in Bastrop said he feels helpless.

For the past two days, Johnson has spent hours trying to make sure his church members were safe and their belongings out of their homes. Other than to pray, it’s about all Johnson says he can do.

“I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. To know that some of my church members have lost their homes and are displaced and I cannot do anything to help. But I pray God will overshadow them with the strength of His Spirit.”

Since Tuesday, torrential rainfall has caused massive flooding throughout Louisiana. Nearly two feet of rain has fallen in some areas and the rain may not move out of the state until sometime Sunday, according to long-range forecasts.

Johnson’s story is not unique in Louisiana.

For Louis Husser, pastor of Crossgate Baptist Church in Robert, he doesn’t know the status of his church building. Water is running over the Highway 190, something he has not seen in 24 years.

Husser travels that road to get to his church and is hoping to somehow to find a way to get to see the fate of the building sometime tonight.

Zenoria Baptist Church in Trout has been flooded by a rapidly rising Little River, with floodwaters standing in the church and the fellowship hall. First Baptist Church in Jena answered a call for help Friday morning and helped the church remove furnishings. More information is coming later.

Since Tuesday, torrential rainfall has caused massive flooding throughout Louisiana. Nearly two feet of rain has fallen in some areas and the rain may not move out of the state until sometime Sunday, according to long-range forecasts.

The flooding is not confined to just north/central Louisiana. According to the Sabine River Authority, the Toledo Bend Reservoir, located on the Texas-Louisiana border, has reached a record level of 174 feet early Friday morning.

The SRA has opened the spillway gates at the dam to let off the rising water and water is flowing through at a record 207-thousand cubic feet per second, 90-thousand feet over the previous record set in 1989. Residents south of the spillway are being evacuated as the run off will put the Sabine River well over its banks.

The Red River is once again rising quickly with the historic amounts of rain that has fallen over the last week. The Red has risen so rapidly that the Red River Waterway Commission has closed the public boat-launching ramps along the river.

The Louisiana National Guard, as directed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, continues to assist local agencies in response to significant and historic flooding throughout the state, working around the clock since March 9.

The LANG has approximately 800 Guardsmen responding to flood operations, to include evacuations, search and rescue by vehicle, boat and helicopter, distribution and supply of water, security and shelter support, and distribution of sandbags. Over the course of these operations, the LANG has utilized more than 160 high-water vehicles, 44 boats, and 3 helicopters.

The LANG has rescued more than 1,738 citizens, and 162 pets. The LANG has distributed more than 12,000 bottles of water, issued more than 324,000 sand bags with 8 sandbag-filling machines.

 

Edwards declared a state of emergency on Thursday for the entire state.

  • car st tammany st sheriffs parish
    An object that appears to be a door floats in the floodwaters of St. Tammany Parish. Photo by St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office
  • DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office High water
    A vehicle is seen in the distance of high water in DeSoto Parish. Photo by DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office
  • DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office Sleepy Hollow in the Linwood Area in Stonewall, LA
    A home is flooded at Sleepy Hollow subdivision in the Linwood Area in Stonewall. Photo by DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office
  • DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office Trailer
    Water has covered most of a trailer in DeSoto Parish. Photo by DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office
  • DeSoto Sheriff’s office I-49 north of Stonewall exit 03-10 around 7 a.m.
    A car is turned to its side on Interstate 49 north of Stonewall. Photo by DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office
  • Flooded road LSP
    A Louisiana State Police vehicle is parked on a dry part of a roadway. Photo by Louisiana State Police
  • Highway 392 SabineParish LSP
    A portion of Highway 392 in Sabine Parish in covered by water. Photo by Louisiana State Police
  • Highway 473 Sabine Parish LSP
    A portion of Highway 473 in Sabine Parish in covered by water. Photo by Louisiana State Police
  • I-49 mile marker 194 LSP
    Water covers a portion of Interstate 49 at mile marker 194. Photo by Louisiana State Police
  • McLin Road Livingston Parish Sheriff
    Water covers the roadway at McLin Road in Livingston Parish. Photo by Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office
  • Satsuma Livingston Parish Sheriff
    Water covers a portion of roadway and homes at Satsuma. Photo by Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office
  • st tammany parish sheriff
    Water reaches a speed limit sign in St. Tammany Parish. Photo by St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office
  • Toledo Bend Dam
    207,640 cubic feet of water per second is being released through the dam at the south end of Toledo Bend. Still there were no signs of failure at the dam on Friday morning, March 11, 2016.
  • WateratRobeline
    First Baptist Church in Robeline served as a host site for water distribution on Friday March 11, 2016. Photo from Brian Ray Facebook page
  • carouachita
    Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Deputies continue water rescue operations for residents needing help evacuating their homes due to high water. These operations have been operating non-stop since the early morning hours Wednesday. Several hundred parish residents have been evacuated thus far. Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • national guard 1
    Louisiana National Guard Blackhawk flies to rescue location to retrieve local residents trapped by flood waters in the Winnfield area, March 10, 2016. Louisiana National Guard photo
  • golden meadow
    Members of the139th Regional Support Group assist residents at Golden Meadow subdivision in Bossier City, March 10, 2016. Louisiana National Guard photo
  • hall
    2nd Lt. William Hall and Cpl. Kurt Humpreys of the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment conduct door to door searches in Pecan Estates in Bossier City, March 10, 2016. Louisiana National Guard photo
  • winnfield
    Winnfield area residents trapped by floodwaters are dropped off to a safe area by a Louisiana National Guard search & rescue Blackhawk, March 10, 2016. Louisiana National Guard photo
  • vernon
    Barrow / Tilley property located just East of the Sabine River Bridge on Hwy 8 is flooded. Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office photo, courtesy of Donnia Tilley Barrow
  • vernon2
    Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office Detective Mike Martin provided this photo of Hwy 8 which is flooded just east of the Sabine River Bridge. Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • dam1
    Arial photographs of Toledo Bend. Photos courtesy of Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office Deputy Rusty Bailey
  • dam2
    Arial photographs of Toledo Bend. Photos courtesy of Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office Deputy Rusty Bailey
  • dam3
    Arial photographs of Toledo Bend. Photos courtesy of Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office Deputy Rusty Bailey
  • vernon3
    Hwy 392 between Tid Bits and Toro is partially flooded. Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office Deputy Kevin Alley photo
  • natchez
    Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office deputies and Natchez police complete a water rescue. Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • natchez2
    Floodwaters cover the streets of Natchez. Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • horses
    Several horses that were stranded due to rising floodwaters on a small patch of land near a red barn on La. Hwy 478 have been rescued by Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies and the owner according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office. Several of the horses were transported by deputies to an undisclosed area, and some were moved to higher ground. Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • monroe drive
    Water has nearly taken over this vehicle and home at Waterwell Road in Natchitoches. Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office
    A water rescue took place in Caddo Parish due to floodwaters. Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • Webster Parish
    These cars sit, submerged by a sunken roadway due to the heavy rainfall that damaged the road. Webster Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • Louisiana Guardsmen assist in neighborhood evacuation
    Sgt. Jason C. Carroll, electronic warfare specialist noncommissioned officer with the Louisiana National Guard's 528th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, carries a young resident through flooded streets in Monroe, Louisiana, March 10, 2016. The 528th used light medium tactical vehicles, LMTVs, in cooperation with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office to navigate through high waters in order to assist the residents who wished to leave. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Tarell J. Bilbo
  • 160310-Z-CC612-018
    Louisiana National Guard's Sgt. Malcom Beavers, of Monroe, La., petroleum specialist with Forward Support Company, 528th Engineer Battalion delivers medical supplies for a small child to Spencer Barrett who is to deliver it to the family that needs the supplies in Columbia, La., March 10, 2016. Barrett has been using his boat to run supplies to families that live on the ridge above Castor Creek which has flooded the surrounded areas, and are too deep for the National Guard's vehicles to travel through. Louisiana’s Guardsmen are trained, ready and equipped to stand up at any moment to protect lives and property, maintain communications, and ensure the continuity of operations and government. U.S.Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Noshoba Davis
  • Luneau1
    Aerial footage of flooding near Monroe. Louisiana state Sen. Jay Luneau photo
  • Luneau2
    Aerial footage of flooding in northeast Louisiana. Louisiana state Sen. Jay Luneau photo
  • Union Parish road gone
    A washed-out road has claimed this car. Union Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • Union Parish
    Floodwaters cover this car in Union Parish. Union Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • Union Parish Sheriff
    In Union Parish, waters partially cover this home. Union Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • Union Parish Sheriff’s Office
    This home in Union Parish is nearly covered by floodwaters. Union Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • Sand Bags
    Members of First West Fairbanks fill sandbags as floodwaters rise in the area. Chad Merrell Facebook photo
  • Saline Bayou between Calvin and Goldonna
    The Saline Bayou has overtaken the road between Goldonna and Calvin in Natchitoches Parish. Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office photo
  • Zenoria1
    A portion of the kitchen area of Zenoria Baptist Church in Trout was filled with water on March 11, 2016. Zenoria Baptist Church Facebook photo
  • Zenoria2
    The bathroom floor of Zenoria Baptist Church in Trout was filled with water on March 11, 2016. Zenoria Baptist Church Facebook photo
  • Zenoria5
    Rising floodwaters have creeped inside Zenoria Baptist Church on March 11, 2016. The floodwaters made the road impassable to the church. Zenoria Baptist Church Facebook photo

 

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Editorial

FIRST PERSON: As goes the family, so goes the culture

By Gene Mills, Louisiana Family Forum president BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Public policy matters, especially regarding the health and growth of families, the basic building block of any flourishing society. As we have seen throughout history, as goes the family, so goes the culture. Unfortunately, for too long … Read More

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